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Poems written mostly while cleaning out garden beds and throwing a ball for a small but very insistent dog.

Sir Nimble's a dog from Downeast A really most curious beast Sheltie for a mom, His dad's Papillon And though small, he's not scared in the least!   This Nimble's a foxy young fellow He's quick and he's cunning and mellow He explores all he spies With his shoe-button eyes Even you, before saying his "Hello."   Little Nimble just loves to play ball! He'll come prancing the first time you call Like the wind he will run And he has the most fun! Doesn't matter at all that he's small!   Our Nimble is sometimes called 'Squirrel-Proof' He roars like a dragon, in real truth When he spies gray intruders Hurls insults, and ruder And frightens them all to the roof   Sir Nimble who's also called 'Skivy Thief' Is certainly taken with under-briefs And with one from the hamper 'Neath the bed he will scamper 'Cause he knows we can't reach him when underneath!   That Nimble! He likes his dad's hat You'd think he was almost a cat As he jumps and he climbs 'Til he gets it each time And he carries it off like a brat!   Mr Nim whom we now call 'The Mongoose' Is a dangerous beast when he's on the loose Thinks my hair is a snake Tugs and pulls and then shakes Til I beg him "Oh please!" for a truce.   Little Nim whom we also call 'Dog Spit' Grabs my tail and he bites it and chews it The elastic he steals! Doesn't care how it feels And he has no remorse, not one tidbit!   Sir Nimble's a small Fierce Bad Rabbit He leaps for the ball and he grabs it Next he's found a new smell And he hurtles pell mell, Oh activity's certainly his habit.   Nimble, alas, is like 'Pigpen' Dust, mud, and dirt are his close friends And his ears getting tufty Make him look rather scrufty He must be brushed then, again and again   Our Nimble's a dog we call "Lion Heart!" Of guarding he makes a quite fine art Out the door he runs roaring Sends the birds all a soaring He returns and looks up, "Aren't I so smart!"   Sir Nimble, you see, is a cool dude Not one of these pups with an 'Attitude!' Though he's wary of birds, Squirrels, and chipmunks in herds With most cats he maintains a great cat-i-tude.   Young Nimble, he barks and he dashes, He bounces and leaps, twirls and splashes Now he's in again, out again Then he runs all about again And next he just flops down and crashes.   Here is Nimble, occasionally called 'Rosebud' Asleep, on a pillow his wee head Looks so gentle, so sweet With such neat little feet When he wakes, he'll go looking for more mud. Elizabeth Steen 3/26/00

Here's Nimble Again!   Mr. Nimble has butterfly ears, Though they're not quite so large as his peers,' They stick up big and hairy And they make him look merry And they surely improve how he hears!   Sir Nim has a beautiful tail Which almost resembles a sail Or an antique knight's plume Or a whiskery broom Which he uses sometimes for a flail.   Our Nimble's a pushy young man Wants us moving as fast as we can With punches to our knees And sharp arps that aren't "please" He says, "Hey folks, Let's get with the plan!"   Nimble, who should be called 'Tigger,' Is what you'd call quick on the trigger. He leaps and he flings. He bounces and springs. I'm so glad he's not very much bigger.   This little dog known as 'The Whirligig' Spins in circles both tight and not very big When he wants to go out He just twirls round about 'Til he looks like he's dancing a little jig.   We call him sometimes 'Little Rancid' Depending, of course, on just what he did. When he's been in compost Bad breath kisses he boasts And our pleasure is not much enhance-ed.     Oh my Nimble just ate my orange ball Now it's scattered in pieces quite small So he's hanging his head And's crept under the bed 'Cause he knows I'm not happy at all!   Nimble Hoovers the floor like a pro For his nose tells him just where to go Each tidbit, each crum Gets sucked into his tum He's so good, next we'll teach him to mow!   Mr. Num is a dog who is game For fun, whether new or the same Put a can o're the ball Takes him no time at all! Oh he'll try any trick you can name!   Now Nimble has a pal name of Bear Who is HUGE with great gobs of white hair She's only a girl And her tail doesn't curl But our Nim says he just doesn't care.   In a dog bed he starts off the night All grown up, he believes that it's right But when we're asleep In the ditch he will creep And he's there on his back when it's light.   On his back with his feet in the air I can feel all his soft, silky hair So I pat his wee nose And I tickle his toes And I'm smiling to know that he's there.   E. Steen 4/2/00